At manual or augmented stations, when a certified weather observer is on duty, tornadoes, funnel clouds, and waterspouts are coded in the following format: tornadic activity; followed by TORNADO, FUNNEL CLOUD, WATERSPOUT, or DUST/SAND WHIRL (DUST DEVIL); followed by the beginning and/or ending time; followed by the location and/or direction of the phenomena from the station, and/or movement, when known. For example, TORNADO B13 6 NE would indicate that a tornado began at 13 minutes past the hour and was 6 SM northeast of the station.

AO1 or AO2 is coded in all METARs/SPECIs from automated stations. Automated stations without a precipitation discriminator are identified as AO1; automated stations with a precipitation discriminator are identified as AO2.

Peak wind is coded in the following format: the remark identifier PK WND, followed by the direction of the wind (first three digits), peak wind speed (next two or three digits) since the last METAR, and the time of occurrence. A space is between the two elements of the remark identifier and the wind direction/speed group; a solidus (/), without spaces, separates the wind direction/speed group and the time. For example, a peak wind of 45 kt from 280° that occurred at 15 minutes past the hour is coded PK WND 28045/15.

Wind shift is coded in the following format: the remark identifier WSHFT, followed by the time the wind shift began. The contraction FROPA is entered following the time if there is reasonable data to consider the wind shift was the result of a frontal passage. A space is between the remark identifier and the time and, if applicable, between the time and the frontal passage contraction. For example, a remark reporting a wind shift accompanied by a frontal passage that began at 30 minutes past the hour would be coded WSHFT 30 FROPA.

Tower or surface visibility is coded in the following format: tower (TWR VIS) or surface (SFC), followed by the observed tower/surface visibility value. A space is coded between each of the remark elements. For example, the control tower visibility of 1½ SM would be coded TWR VIS 1 1/2.

Variable prevailing visibility is coded in the following format: the remark identifier VIS, followed by the lowest and highest visibilities evaluated, separated by the letter V. A space follows the remark identifier, and no spaces are between the letter V and the lowest/highest values. For example, a visibility that was varying between ½ and 2 SM would be coded VIS 1/2V2.

Sector visibility is coded at manual stations in the following format: the remark identifier VIS, followed by the sector referenced to eight points of the compass, and the sector visibility in statute miles. For example, a visibility of 2½ SM in the northeastern octant is coded VIS NE 2 1/2.

At designated automated stations, the visibility at a second location is coded in the following format: the remark identifier VIS, followed by the measured visibility value and the specific location of the visibility sensor(s) at the station. This remark will only be generated when the condition is lower than that contained in the body of the report. For example, a visibility of 2½ SM measured by a second sensor located at Runway 11 is coded VIS 2 1/2 RWY11.

When lightning is observed at a manual station, the frequency, type of lightning, and location are reported. The contractions for the type and frequency of lightning are based on Table 24-7 (e.g., OCNL LTGICCG NW, FRQ LTG VC, or LTG DSNT W).

When lightning is detected by an automated system: